Line Combos: Defense Pairings For This Year, And The Future

[saskriders]

What would you like to see for this year's defense pairings, and what do you want the defence to look like in a few years?

This year I would like to see

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Weircioch
Phillips-Gryba
Corvo

Next year I would like to see

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Weircioch
Gryba-Ceci
Phillips

For the long term future, my hope would be to lockdown those 6 guys and for the pairings to be

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Weircioch-Gryba

3 pairings with 1 offensive and 1 defensive guy each and with 1 right shot and 1 left shot each.

Left out, Boro. Don't like his game, would rather trade him in a package while he still has some value

Click to read more...

 

[Sensinitis]

It all depends on if Wiercioch is able to convert to LD IMO. If he can, he becomes our Gonchar in-the-making.

A Cowen-Wiercioch pairing would be so huge and deadly.

 

[McManked]

Next year you put Wiercioch who is a LD on RD and Gryba who is a RD as a LD.

 

[Qward]

I expect

Methot/Karlsson
Cowen/Corvo
Phillips/Wiercioch

next year

Cowen/Karlsson
Methot/Ceci
Boro/Wiercioch

 

[One M0RE YEAR]

long term i think that a top 4 with karlsson, methot, cowen and weir makes sense

 

[OmniSens]

I really can't wait for Ceci to make the jump.

 

[Benjamin]

Didn't Bmurr say Wier can play both RD and LD?

 

[NyQuil]

Corvo is supposed to help Cowen learn to play defence?

God help us.

We have three top 4 d-men right now, so no pairings are going to look very good.

I don't think Wiercioch, Gryba, Phillips or Corvo are top 4 (yet in the case of Wiercioch).

I'd still almost rather see what Wiercioch can do with Cowen over Corvo.

 

[God Says No]

I don't remember Wier playing on the left side last year. If he can, that would be the best scenario. With that assumption I see the following:

Methot/Karlsson
Cowen/Gryba
Phillips/Wiercioch

with Corvo going in for Gryba and Wiercioch on a rotation basis.


next year

Cowen/Karlsson
Methot/Ceci
Wiercioch/Gryba

 

[NyQuil]

I guess it really depends on whether Gryba can eat a lot of minutes again.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Corvo-karlsson
Corvo-Wier
Cowen-methot
Corvo

I'm a big fan of offense whether it be for or against us
Seriously though
Methot-karlsson
Phillips-wier
corvo-gryba
cowen(cause hes going to hold out)lol

 

[Sensinitis]

Next year you put Wiercioch who is a LD on RD and Gryba who is a RD as a LD.

Woops, meant RD

 

[Sensinitis]

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Wiercioch
Phillips-Corvo/Gryba

Is what I'm hoping for, but training camp always has some nice surprises.

 

[Senscore]

I don't like the idea of giving Gryba a top 4 spot. He played well in certain games, but he was far too inconsistent for that kind of icetime.

That being said, I thought Wiercioch looked better, but at this point whether or not he can handle big minutes is another thing entirely.

I suppose it will be a more of a feeling out process.

 

[aragorn]

IMO Methot, Karlsson, Cowen & Phillips are permanent fixtures in the lineup while Corvo, Gryba & Wiercioch rotate in & out of the lineup. When Wiercioch goes in one of Gryba or Corvo will come out of the lineup & Phillips will more likely be the guy who moves over to the right side. I wonder if PM will employ the shutdown/PK tandem this yr as he did last season with Cowen & Gryba together or wait for the playoffs to put them together.

Methot - Karlsson
Phillips - Corvo/Wiercioch
Cowen - Gryba

Next Season:
Methot - Karlsson
Wiercioch - Ceci
Cowen - Gryba/Boroweicki or Phillips if he is re-signed.

 

[Qward]

I forgot Gryba in my combos. Oops.

 

[Beville]

Karlsson x5
Cowen x1

Sorted. For life.

 

[darglor]

I'm amazed so many people are penciling Ceci into the top 4 as soon as next year. He's going to spend a year on the bottom 2 to get acclimated to the NHL, as he should.

 

[aragorn]

I'm amazed so many people are penciling Ceci into the top 4 as soon as next year. He's going to spend a year on the bottom 2 to get acclimated to the NHL, as he should.

He could get acclimated to the NHL this yr playing games around the trade deadline. Some think he is our #1 prospect & has all the tools to be successful especially offensively. You can never have enough offensive players on your team & with his size he shouldn't take too long to transition from the AHL to the NHL. He will need to improve his defensive play & should early with Luke Richardson (a former NHL defenceman) helping him out. I wonder if Jason Smith will ever be an assistant coach under Luke or whether he may be next in line to coach Bingo or prefers to stay in Ottawa.

 

[Benjamin]

Cowen-Karlsson
Methot-Wiercioch
Phillips-Gryba/Corvo

Hate to split up Methot-Karlsson but I think Wier will be needing Methots defensive ability.

 

[Sun God Nika]

13-14

Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - Wiercioch
Gryba - Phillips
Corvo
Borowiecki

14-15
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Wiercioch
Gryba - Borowiecki
Phillips
Ceci

15-16
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Gryba - Wiercioch
UFA
Sadao

 

[Sensinitis]

If Phillips and Gryba gain just a bit more foot speed, they become lethal as a pairing.

 

[WhiteLight*]

13-14
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gryba
Phillips - Wiercioch
Corvo
Borowiecki

14-15
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Wiercioch - Gryba
Borowiecki
Wikstrand

15-16
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Wiercioch - Gryba
Borowiecki
Wikstrand

 

[dumbdick]

These things never really play out this way. We'll get more prospects or players via trade/ufa who will pass some of our current players/prospects.

I could see Karlsson, Methot and Ceci sticking around. After that, it's anybody's guess. Will Wikstrand pass Strangeballs? Don't know....

Will we trade for a dman, or have a future 1st rounder make the jump early? Couldn't say... Stay tuned I guess.

 

[Sensinitis]

Wikstrand-Karlsson